By: Dinka Utomo on October 31, 2024
Last June, I attended the International Reformed Theological Institute Conference at our alma mater in Yogyakarta. In a conversation with one of the participants from the Netherlands, we turned to the state of the church in our respective countries. The person showed me data showing that in his country, 51% of people aged 15 and…
By: Jonita Fair-Payton on October 31, 2024
“Only when something is lost can it be found. Only when something dies can it be born again.” [1] I have lamented over the past week about the current state of the United States. It has been an extremely challenging time for me, so difficult that I have had to protect my peace by…
By: Julie O'Hara on October 31, 2024
The denominational pastors on the east side of the state were gathered for a one-day meeting intended to strengthen relationships and encourage their ministries. While listening to the stories from pastors about how God was moving in their local churches my first impulse was sadness that I had left my church community of over 20…
By: Daren Jaime on October 31, 2024
Living in COVID, we were all were forced to cope with an unprecedented experience. No one ever was forced to live through a pandemic, and for those such as myself in leadership, we were faced with a plethora of emotional upheavals, daily changes, uphill obstacles, and no apparent expiration date to this life-altering experience. We…
By: Chad Warren on October 31, 2024
I didn’t realize how personal this would become. Over the years, I have seen and read about many leaders publicly addressing their “moral indiscretions.” From a distance, I’ve watched as greed, pride, impurity, and sexual immorality disrupt and damage families, churches, and communities. However, when I received a letter implicating one of my friends and…
By: Diane Tuttle on October 31, 2024
Full disclosure, I like shopping at Hobby Lobby. Perusing the aisles for nonessential holiday decorations or mini kitchen gadgets is relaxing. Don’t judge. I don’t need to purchase anything, but getting lost in doing nothing for a few minutes while Christian music plays throughout the building is surprisingly peaceful, especially for a big retail store…
By: Shela Sullivan on October 31, 2024
The book, ‘The Elephant’s Dilemma: Break Free and Reimagine Your Future at Work” by Jon Bostock is practical and inspiring, [1] published in 2020. The book explores how individuals can break free from their current constraints and reimagine their future in the workplace. According to reviewers, this book inspires readers to take risks and make…
By: Christy on October 31, 2024
There are plenty of books and content around women’s roles in ministry, the home, and society. Like many secondary issues, there is a huge spectrum of thought on what a woman can do, and what it looks like for a woman to flourish. Dr. Joel Green at Fuller Seminary believes women are equally called to…
By: Debbie Owen on October 31, 2024
What is the job of a leader? “To guide people through the unknown to something better than they can imagine,” says Yaseen Dadabhay, therapist and coach. [1] Another way to say that is that the job of leadership is to put on an attitude of constant transformation. (My definition: attitude is what you think and…
By: Adam Harris on October 31, 2024
It’s the season for chili here in Tennessee. It’s getting cool; the leaves are changing, and chili recipe videos are now a part of my algorithms. Last week, I ran across a chili recipe that looked amazing and had great reviews. It inspired me! I got all the ingredients and made it for the family.…
By: Kari on October 31, 2024
Eric Liddell was a Scottish runner known for refusing to run his preferred race in the Olympics because it was on a Sunday. He, instead, trained for a different race on a different day and broke a world record.[1] As a kid, I first heard of his story in the movie Chariots of Fire. His…
By: Ryan Thorson on October 31, 2024
In today’s complex and shifting world, what defines a good leader? And as a Christian leader in the Pacific Northwest, how can I embody a healthy, mature approach to guiding others in faith during such uncertain times? Reflecting on these questions led me to choose Invisible Jesus, a new book by Scot McKnight and Tommy…
By: Elysse Burns on October 31, 2024
Uninspired. If I were to choose a word to describe the past few weeks for myself, this would be it. I am afraid of this word. I’m not too fond of the feeling. Perhaps this is why I chose Andrew Peterson’s Adorning the Dark: Thoughts on Community, Calling, and the Mystery of Making. This book,…
By: Joel Zantingh on October 31, 2024
Don’t be confused by David Ehrlichman’s direct title, Impact Networks: Create connection, Spark Collaboration, and Catalyze Systemic Change. Behind this simple and straightforward framework for network leadership are a leadership mindset and a set of behaviours that can attend to the complexity of our world. Ehrlichman wastes no time to express, Across the globe, we…
By: Todd E Henley on October 30, 2024
Hunting in the harsh winter of Alaska presents significant challenges, and for an Eskimo, the risks can be life-threatening. In these extreme conditions, the threat of frostbite or freezing can become a reality in less than thirty minutes. This is why it’s crucial for hunters to be innovative and resourceful. One such practice involves coating…
By: Jennifer Eckert on October 30, 2024
Background People have divided themselves and others into groups for millennia. Ancient tribal and clan structures allowed families to share resources and protect one another from harm. As knowledge of agricultural practices took root, nomadic lifestyles were replaced with settlements. Social hierarchies formed organically and were based on wealth, land ownership, and labor. A major…
By: Jennifer Vernam on October 30, 2024
It is hard to challenge the tribe in which you have been raised and built your career. Doing so without whitewashing your own contribution to the dysfunction requires hard deconstructive work. Take, for example, Russell Moore’s critical self-assessment when reviewing the Southern Baptist Convention’s policies regarding Women’s leading in the Church: “A new generation of…
By: Graham English on October 30, 2024
Our peer, Glyn Barrett, shared in our syntopical Zoom chat that his father told him that the three greatest temptations for a pastor were, “gold, girls and glory.” All of these temptations are related to the issue at hand in the book I chose for my reading this week, “Reckoning With Power: Why The Church…
By: Adam Cheney on October 29, 2024
Over the weekend I hosted my workshop as I continue work on my project and my NPO. The problem I am working on is the lack of welcoming hospitality offered by Evangelical Christians to Somali Muslims. Thanks to Bebbington I have a better descriptor now for Evangelicals. I presented the group with a word picture…
By: Russell Chun on October 29, 2024
Part 1: Introduction Russell Moore in Losing OurReligion: An Altar Call in Evangelical America [1] has sparked active discussion in our class. Pastors from different denominations have waded in and grabbed Moore’s book to evaluate and critique themselves and the churches in this highly politicized presidential year. Part 2: What my peers are saying.…
